Album Review: No More Excuses from Danette McMahon

Album:  No More Excuses
Artist:  Danette McMahon
Label:  Self-Released
Website:  https://danettemcmahon.com/bio/

Having received a scholarship to attend Houston Baptist University for music and drama, vocalist Danette McMahon blends the essence of R&B/soul with facets of torchlight jazz, Latin swing, and adult pop on her latest release No More Excuses.  Containing two cover tunes and twelve originals songs written by McMahon, the recording is laden in lyrics with adult themes, finding hope and strength amidst life's trials, losses, and heartbreaks. 

She woos her audience into a comfy respite with the starry, dream-like escapes sewn across "Life Goes On" and "Come Dance with Me," as she intimates the lingering sentiment of a sorrowful past while in the next breath embraces love and strength of a positive outlook for the future. The music swings harmoniously like a tender caress that works as a balm on the listener.  Such smooth swing also surfaces in the bossa nova swells of "Bluebird."

The strutting grooves pulsating across "Road Trip" emboss the track with a bopping, cool jazz vigor that keeps McMahon vocals suspended on top of the melody.  Bursting with an R&B prowess in the rhythmic pattern and a soulful command in McMahon's vocals, "Closer To My Dream" lifts the listener to the point of reaching for the stars.  Her vocals imprint a saucy swagger along "Naughty Girl" reminiscent of the burlesque singers that earmarked the ragtime era of jazz.  She coasts into the waltzing tempo of "Fallin' Deeper," as saxophonist Woody Witt joins her with a panoply of swirling toots.

Her remake of Oasis' popular tune "Wonderwall" is beautifully treated with smooth jazz piano vamps and the somber resonance of Patrick Moore's cello strings silhouetting the track.  McMahon sings the lyrics with such zest that audiences can discern her intensity and sentimental attachment to the lyrics without her requiring to raise her voice.  She merely savors each note and her passion penetrates the listener.  

Her second cover is the Dave Matthews Band's hidden gem "You and Me."  The rollicking folk pop riffs of Paul Chester's guitar are complemented by the soft twinkle of Andrew Lienhard's keys and the buoyant beats of Anthony Sapp's upright bass joined by Mark Simmons on drums and Milton Comeaux on percussion.  There is a porch folk luster in the melody blended with a subdued bop jazz flicker in Lay Arredando's flugelhorn.  The build up through the verse into the crest of the hook has McMahon's floating with a scintillating glint.

A gifted storyteller, Danette McMahon's delivery is penetrative, imminently elevating her audience.  She has a voice meant to intimate sentiment and disseminate poignant messages to audiences with palpable candor.

Musicians:  
Danette McMahon - lead vocals
Ed Lowe - trombone
Patrick Moore - cello
Andrew Lienhard - piano
Joe LoCascio - piano
Phillip Jones - B3 Organ
Lay Arredando - flugelhorn
Woody Witt - tenor sax
Milton Comeaux - percussion
Anthony Sapp - upright bass
Paul Chester - guitar
Mark Simmons - drums
Lindsay Weidmann Facknitz, and Jimmy Robbins - background vocals